Science & Society

Chemistry

Let’s learn about forensic science

Crime scene investigators analyze evidence with science, to connect criminals to crimes. And it’s often slower and different from what you see on TV.

Science & Society

Brainwaves of people with coarse, curly hair are now less hard to read

Electrodes weren’t designed for people with coarse, curly hair. A redesign was needed, scientists say.

Chemistry

Rock Candy Science 2: No such thing as too much sugar

Making rock candy at home takes a lot more sugar than you might think. Why? This experiment will show you why.

Science & Society

How much do masks help against COVID-19?

There’s a range of masks available to the public. From purchased to home-made coverings, all should help — some a lot more than others.

Health & Medicine

Six foot social-distancing will not always be enough for COVID-19

To avoid COVID-19, keeping a 6-foot social distance is a good rule of thumb. But for plenty of instances, that might not be nearly far enough.

Science & Society

Five tips for learning better from home

When adapting to learning a new way, such as online from home, you may need to adjust habits and more actively reach out when help is needed.

Tech

From buses to low-cost internet: Creative paths to online access

From loaner computers and ‘shared’ or reduced-cost internet, U.S. schools and companies are bringing the internet to social-distancing students.

Science & Society

Learning will change with COVID-19’s social distancing

As COVID-19 has shuttered schools to foster social distancing, the way kids learn is changing. Here are tips from some of the first sidelined classrooms.

Space

Before working on spacecraft, this engineer overcame self-doubt

Tiera Fletcher once dreamed of working on spacecraft. Gaining confidence helped her become an engineer who designs vehicles for moon or Mars travel.

Environment

Laundry tweaks can help clothes last longer and pollute less

Clothes washed in cooler water and for less time shed less dye and fewer fibers, a new study finds. That’s better for clothes — and the environment.

Environment

Greener than burial? Turning human bodies into worm food

Composting human bodies yielded good results — and good soil — in one small study. It could become an alternative to burial or cremation in one state.

Animals

Conservation is going to the dogs

Scientists are now training dogs to help track rare, elusive — and sometimes invasive — plants and animals.